Odisha govt talks to farmers’ body; to resolve sack issue

The Odisha government today decided to resolve problems faced by farmers over the availability of sacks during procurement of paddy-one of the demands raised by Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS).

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting in the state secretariat chaired by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma. Representatives of NNKS were present during the meeting.

However, Das Burma while appealing to NNKS to withdraw their stir said another meeting will be held on Saturday (March 26) to deliberate on other issues raised by the farmers’ organization.

“Members of NNKS are agitating on certain demands. Their demands were discussed at today’s meeting. The state government is prepared to solve the issue of gunny bags raised by them. Another meeting will be held at 4 PM on March 26. Principal secretaries of Food Supplies, Agriculture, Cooperation and Fisheries departments will be present at the meeting. Demands of NNKS will be discussed during the meeting,” said Das Burma to reporters after the meeting today.

“Our agitation entered its sixth day today. This is a satyagraha. The government should admit that farmers have committed suicide due to crop loss and loan burden. Registration for procurement of paddy from farmers is not being done in a proper manner. While farmers owning land can register for selling their paddy to the government what about share croppers who do not have land but want to sell their produce? Until this aspect is considered by the government 70% of farmers will not be benefitted. There is no social security allowance for farmers. The government should make a provision for a social security allowance of Rs 5,000 for a farmer in the budget which will cost the Rs 21,600 crore. If the government fails to fulfill our demands then we will launch jail bharo agitation from March 29,” said Akshay Kumar coordinator NNKS talking to reporters.